Reliability - what’s your experience been?

Brands that have failed me:

Classe Audio - the stuff made in China not Canada. SSP - 800 (twice).

P S Audio - happened quite quickly BHK pre amp buzzing

The Cary gear I have owned (two preamps and two amps) has been very reliable. (Actually, I haven’t put enough time on the latest preamp yet to fully make that determination.)

I once owned a pair of Audio Research VTM 120s that sounded great but had a nasty habit of blowing a random grid resistor when I turned them on.

I have a Rega Jupiter transport that I no longer use, but it has lasted forever.

A digital cable went bad on me once.

My Carver CDP took a crap, but it had a lot of miles on it. My B&K digital HT pre started doing wonky things before I gave up on HT.

I got this HP desktop I am presently typing on in 2012 (Windows 7!) and it is doing some goofy things here and there, but it is still my only PC.  

Amps, Preamps, and Speakers. The most reliable.

CD players the least.

Spoke with a Hi End repair tech, he told me CD players have the highest failure rates vs Tape Decks and Turntables.

I have owned and upgraded a high end audio system since the early 1970s. Marantz at the beginning and getting better. Amber, AR turntable, Nakimachi, VPI, Threshold, Pass, Audio Research, Sony CD player (in the very beginning) and Sonic Frontiers, and Linn.

I only remember one failure… three times… the Sonic Frontiers CD player had the transport go out three times. They replaced it for free each time.

1.  Cary has been the absolute worst cr*p I've ever owned.

2.  BAT has been the absolute best gear I've ever owned ... great sound and built like a tank..